
Admission | Application
Review admission requirements for our Accelerated Nursing program and the steps needed to apply.
Concordia College, located in Moorhead, Minnesota, has an outstanding reputation for preparing students for health professions. Our 16-month Accelerated Nursing program offers a fast-track to licensure as a registered nurse (RN). This intensive program is ideal for college graduates with a degree in a non-nursing major who has found a passion for nursing. Upon successful completion of the program, you are eligible to take the Nursing Candidate Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become an RN, and meet the qualifications for public health nurse registration in Minnesota.
Whether you hope to be the best school nurse, ICU nurse, oncology nurse or dream of becoming a skilled nurse-midwife, nurse anesthetist, or nurse practitioner…we can help. We are in the business of preparing caring, compassionate individuals for a vocation in the profession of nursing.
Start your NursingCAS application for the 2021-22 cycle now!
PRINT | Accelerated Nursing Program Overview
2020-Best Nursing Schools in Minnesota
Concordia College's nursing program is proud to the ranked #3 by RegisteredNursing.org.
Read more about nursing in the state and the selection process.
Personal Attention | Our faculty place strong emphasis on advising and mentoring students to achieve their greatest success. You will receive individual guidance throughout the program and excellent preparation for advanced education in nursing.
Learning Support | Our program is classroom-based, giving you the opportunity to connect, learn and share with other students. The supportive relationships of your cohort-based community and faculty will play an important role in your success.
Excellent Track Record | Our Accelerated Nursing program has more than a decade of exceptional success preparing students to enter nursing careers or continue with advanced education in nursing. As our program matures, we continually seek new ways to enhance and enrich the student experience.
State-of-the-art Facility | Nursing, along with Mathematics, Dietetics and other disciplines in the Division of Sciences, is housed in our new Integrated Science Center. This multi-functional facility was designed to promote strong communication and engagement between faculty and students. It also provides open, inviting spaces for collaborative learning and comfortable areas for study.
Clinical Internships | Concordia has long-standing relationships with a variety of community healthcare organizations. Students benefit from having all clinical experiences arranged by nursing faculty to acquire over 700 hours of practice. We retain a ratio of one faculty to six students in all clinical settings, ensuring direct supervision and strong mentorship. Currently, we have contracts with 18 clinical agencies to provide a variety of experiences across specialties and the lifespan. These opportunities include direct patient care and interprofessional simulation.
Simulation Lab | Our lab provides students with manikin demonstrations and hands-on practice aimed to develop competence and build self-confidence. The Sim Lab gives students resources and exposure to basic nursing skills and patient care scenarios that translate into real bedside practice. Our lab continues to grow and expand with innovations in technology.
Exam Preparation | After successfully completing our program, you will be eligible to take the national qualifying exam (NCLEX) to become an RN or pursue graduate education in nursing or work in nursing administration. Your success on the exam is our goal, and we will work with you to make sure you're prepared.
Concordia Values | You will be immersed in the rich, vibrant culture of our Concordia community and focus on what it means to Become Responsibly Engaged in the World. Strong, foundational coursework offered in the liberal arts prepares you to learn, lead and serve with character and compassion.
Review admission requirements for our Accelerated Nursing program and the steps needed to apply.
Our students receive the knowledge, values and skills they need to succeed. Find out where our alumni are making a difference.
Please review the FAQs before contacting our admission team. Read facts and advice on accelerated nursing programs across the nation.
The faculty at Concordia is unparalleled. You can tell, while they teach, that they really enjoy what they teach and want students to succeed in their classes. The professors are always willing to talk to students in their offices whether it's to answer questions or just to chat.
Because the size of the accelerated program, you get close with everyone in the class. We rely on each other to help get through and they become your greatest supporters.
This profession is amazing, and the opportunities you get at Concordia will prepare you for anything in the professional world.Stephen Thie | Accelerated Nursing '18
After attending a medical volunteer trip in South America, I became inspired by the positive impact nurses have on not only their patients, but their patients' families. This trip made me realize how important nurses are and how rewarding the profession is. Shortly after attending this trip, I decided to go back to school at Concordia College to pursue my passion for nursing.
The faculty in the Nursing Department has positively impacted my academic experience in many ways. They are very approachable, truly get to know each student, do their very best to help everyone succeed, and share their incredible knowledge and passion for nursing with us students.
My student cohort has been a huge support system for me. We all support each other, help each other out when needed, keep each other on track, encourage each other, and have grown to be friends, not just classmates.Katie Wenzel | Accelerated Nursing '18
After graduating with my first degree, I started working in the medical field to help me continue to prepare for my future as a physician or physician assistant. It was during this time that I started working with a nurse practitioner in an urgent care setting. As a result, I started to appreciate the time and caring attitude that she displayed to the patients who were coming in for care. By seeing this type of provider, I was driven to the field of nursing since I knew that the nursing mentality would allow me to spend more time with my patient.
When I started to look into accelerated nursing programs, I really appreciated the overall organization of Concordia’s program and how they blended us into the junior year nursing class. I appreciated the chance to get to know other traditional nursing students along with the accelerated cohort.
I chose Concordia College mainly because of its reputation as an accelerated program along with its recognition as an accredited university.Courtney Cardinal | Accelerated Nursing '18
The best advice I would give the next students enrolling in the accelerated class is to take advantage of the knowledge that your cohort brings to your experience. Each person in your group has skills that are different than yours and each one can be valuable at different times in your journey together. Lift each other up each chance you can get. Those good memories will get you through the more challenging times throughout the curriculum. Those good times and memories outweigh those more challenging times, HANDS DOWN. Lastly, continually, possibly daily, remember that being a nurse is a vocation, not just as a job.
Kathleen Rustad | Accelerated Nursing '18
All clinical experiences are scheduled by faculty. There is no added stress of looking for your own clinical sites to complete program requirements.
Gain over 700 hours of clinical experience during the course of the program.
Students seeking job placement are employed within 6 months of program completion.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing | 89% of new nursing graduates secure employment within 4-6 months of program completion
The Bureau of Labor Statistics | Job opportunities for RN's are expected to grow 15% between 2016 and 2026, an increase of 438,100, much faster than the average for ALL occupations.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine | The nursing profession, with more than three million members, is the nation's largest segment of the healthcare workforce.
Learn about tuition and other costs associated with our Accelerated Nursing program.
learn moreOur 2021-22 application cycle is now open. Learn about eligibility and application requirements.
Start your application today!
ApplyAmerican Assoc. of College of Nursing
National Student Nurses' Association
Nat'l Council of State Boards of Nursing
Sigma Theta Tau International
XI Kappa Chapter at Large
MN Center for Nursing
ND Center for Nursing
Minorities in Nursing
Men in Nursing
Nursing Specialties
Have additional questions about Concordia College or the Accelerated Nursing program? We are here to help! Call us at 218.299.3567 or send us an email.
Schedule a visit to tour our campus in Moorhead, Minnesota and see what the Fargo-Moorhead community has to offer.